Blank cartridge



y 12, 1931- c. HOLDEN ET AL 1,

BLANK CARTRIDGE Filed March 1. 1930 f INVENTORs ATTORNEYS l atented Mayl2, 193i warren STATES PATENT caries CHARLES L. HOLDEN, OF KINGSMILLS,AND PHILIP P. QUAYLE, OF LEBANON, OHIO,v

ASSIGNOBS T0 THE PETERS CARTRIDGE COLIPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A COR-lORATION OF OHIO BLANK CARTRIDGE Application filed March 1,

This invention relates to a blank cartridge for use in talking movingpictures. Before the inception of sound pictures blank cartridges hadbeen used in moving pictures.

These blank cartridges were constructed solecomparatively long lowpressure wave.

It Was discovered that blank cartridges previously used, developed asound wave so intense that it ruptured the delicate filament of theapparatus used to record the sound picture. An urgent need was therefore2 created for a blank cartridge that would not only provide thenecessary smoke and flash for photographic purposes but would alsoproduce a sound wave of the characteristic quality of a shot but at sucha reduced amplitude that it would not damage the delicate recordingapparatus.

It is the lower harmonics, for instance below 1000' cycles per secondwhich determine the carrying power of the voice, while it is thefrequencies above 1000 cycles which determine the articulation orquality. Thus, in producing a blank cartridge suitable for the talkingmoving pictures we desire to maintain the same band of frequencies atreduced amplitudes, otherwise the sound would be immediately perceivedas false, or not possessing the characteristics associated with gunfire. We have invented such a blank cartridge and have attained thedesired quality at only one-third the intensity of the former blank. Ournew blank cartridges have the characteristic sharp rise in pressure butof lesser amplitude than the regular cartridge. They have thesame general harmonics which determine quality but for various arms of differentcalibers.

1930. Serial 1%. 482,463.

they also are of smaller amplitude than formerly.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully apparent fromthe description of the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional giew of the cartridge whenstood upon its ase. Figure 2is a view of the primer end of thecartridge. I

These new blank cartridges are adaptable It is this valuablecharacteristic which has led to the designation, 5-in-1'blank. In themoving pictures it is not necessary to use arms of good shootingqualities since blanks alone and not ball cartridges are used.

Therefore, various second-hand arms may be used by the moving pictureactors. A cartridge which will operate equally well in sev- 'eraldifl'erent arms is therefore of much greater value. 'Our improved blankcartridge is of such a construction that it will operate in .38-40,.4440 and .45 caliber revolvers and in both .38-40 and A l-40 rifles,and will' produce'in all these arms the required amountof flash andsmoke and the required quality of report or sound. This characteristicis attained by making an outer shell or cartridge of very rigidconstruction and by reducing or forming the mouth of the shell toconform to the shape of a loaded ballcartridge, and by providing a spaceor chamber between the outer shell and an inner shell carrying thecharge. More specifically, an outer shell or case 1 is formed or reducedto a shape simulating the bullet of a'loaded ball cartridge of anysuitable caliber such as .38. An inner shell 2 consists of a casesmaller in caliber than the outer case, rolled and crimped andcontaining a powder charge 3 and a confining wad 4 with a primer 5.Between the outer and inner case there is a space or chamber. The basesof the two cases or shells are flush so that the primer carried bythe-inner'shell is proper- Instead for large caliber arms. From thepoint of View of sound effects, the outer case provides an explosionchamber larger than the charge.

Both outer and inner case may be made of any suitable material such asmetal or nonmetal or a combination of metal or nonmetal. F or instance,the outer case may be made of brass while the inner case may be madepartly of brass and partly of paper. of brass any other suitable metalmay be used. The construction of the ner case of our blank cartridgeprovides a substantial reinforcing of the sound due to itsconfiguration, wad and crimp which confine the explosion until pressurehave'increased to a degree such that the pro er quality of sound will beproduced. The space between the inner and outer case is so proportionedthat a sound wave ha: ng the desired characteristics as to quality andintensity is obtained The .blank cartridges of this invention have thefollowing advantages, features and characteristics V r 1. The visualphotographic 'ei'fez't is correct.

2. The size of the cartr'. e adapts i to it into the small armsconventionally used.

3. The frequency ofvibration and the harmonics are suitable to createtne illusion of a normal shot when recorded by apparatus adjusted torecord the human voice.

4. The amplitudeor pressure of the vibrations is sufficiently lowtopermit the recording without injury to the apparatus.

By using these blank cartridgesthe sound of gun fire may be reproducedin a natural manner and yet be recorded without damage to the soundreceiving apparatus.

Having described our invention, we claim:

.1. A blank cartridge for use in-talking moving pictures, comprising, anoutercase adapted to fit in the arms to be used, an inner shell disposedin and spaced from the outer case, a primer carried by said innershell'and appropriatel located for use in said arms, a charge in saidinner shell, and means for constricting said charge in said inner shellto produce sounc waves of similar frequencies but lesser amplitude thanthe sound waves produced by normal gun fire.

2. A. blank cartridge for usein talking moving pictures, said blankcartridge, com prising, a relatively strong outer case adapt ed to beinserted in the desired arms, a more fragile shell mounted in but spacedfrom said case, a charge and primer carried by said second shell, andmeans for constricting said charge to the degrees necessary to producesound vibrations of frequencies approximating those produced by normalgun fire.

3. A blank cartridge for use in talking moving pictures, said blankcartridge, comprising, a shell carrying a primer, a charge and awad, anouter casesurrounding said characteristics similar to those produced bynormal gun fire.

lpii blank cartridge for use intalking moving pictures, comprising, aninner shell carrying a charge and a wad, a crimp about the mouth ofthe'shell adapted-touconstrict the wad, and an outercase having itsrearend flush with the rearend oftheshellv but of greater diameter than theshell thereby adapting" the shell to be used in arms of caliber largerthan it and providing a chamber about the shell suitable for developmentof appropriate acoustic properties.

5. A blank cartridge" for usein talking ng pictures, comprising, anouter ease the shape of a loaded ball cartridge, shell of smaller sizecarrying a 1. ad and 1 timer, the base of the inner ll mounted flushwith the base of the outer case.

in witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names.

CHARLES L. HOLDEN. PHILIP P. QUAYLE.

